Device for transporting persons on a cableway system

ABSTRACT

In order to prevent the cooling of chair lift seats that is perceived as being unpleasant by skiers, the seats have at least one element with good heat storage capacity at operating temperature. The element is preferably integrated in a seat cushion and/or in a back cushions and it has, for example, a covering in which a solid or fluid material with good heat-storing characteristic is contained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for transporting persons on a cableway system. The device is connectable via a fastening device to a supporting and conveying cable and it has at least one seat with seat cushions and, if appropriate, back cushions. The invention furthermore relates to a cableway system that is equipped with a multiplicity of such transport devices.

In the prior art, chairs of cableway systems are known that are equipped with pivotable hoods for protecting the seats and the persons being conveyed during the operation of the cableway system from unfavorable climatic effects, such as snowfall and cold temperatures. However, these hoods provide only a limited amount of protection against cold, with the severe cooling of the seat surfaces being perceived by the people being conveyed as being unpleasant, in particular at very low ambient temperatures. This disadvantage applies, however, not only to chair lifts but also, albeit to a somewhat smaller extent, to systems using gondolas and cable cars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a transport device which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and allows increasing the comfort for the persons being conveyed on the seats of a cableway system.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for transporting persons in a cableway system, the device comprising:

-   -   a fastening device for attachment to a supporting and conveying         cable;     -   one or more seats connected to the fastening device, the seat         having a seat cushion and/or a back cushion with at least one         element having good heat storage capacity at an operating         temperature of the device.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the heat-storing element is integrated in the seat cushion and/or in the back cushion.

Conventional seat and back cushions of the seats of cableway systems cool very rapidly after a person gets up from them, since they have only a very small heat storage capacity, and so the seat is cold again or has assumed the ambient temperature by the time the next person sits down on it. It is therefore proposed in the invention to integrate at least one element into the seat, which element is capable of storing relatively large quantities of heat. Ideally, elements which can store a relatively large quantity of latent heat at operating temperature are used for this. However, it is also possible to use for this purpose elements or materials having a better heat storage capacity at operating temperature in comparison with conventional seats. For example, reference is made to bags filled with a gel which are known per se from medicinal or therapeutic cold or heat treatments.

In the present context, operating temperature is understood to be that temperature which is perceived by the people being conveyed as being pleasant, and lies, for example, between 5 and 40° C. Depending on the structure of the seat and back cushions and the arrangement of the element on them and possible insulating layers, the operating temperature of the element may also lie above or below these values.

Since the elements can store relatively large quantities of heat, they can maintain a temperature within this operating temperature range for a relatively long period of time, and so the seats do not cool so rapidly.

In this connection, elements having a material which has a latent-heat-storing capacity at operating temperature have very good properties, since they can dispense heat at a constant temperature for a relatively long period of time.

The heat capacity which is to be stored can be selected to be greater or smaller, depending on requirements, the smallest quantity being that which is necessary in order to keep the seat or cushion warm until a person has been conveyed over a section, i.e. for example, from the valley station to the mountain station, with the possibility of bringing the element back to operating temperature before the next person is conveyed. However, it is also possible to store higher quantities of heat which are sufficient for more conveying cycles, for example in the cooler morning hours, with the possibility of regularly reheating the elements, i.e. for example, each time the chair passes through a station of the cableway system or else only at greater intervals.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is also possible for the heating device to have a connection for an energy store, for example a battery, situated on the chair. In this case, there is the possibility of reheating the element permanently or at intervals and, if appropriate, only when required, e.g. if the temperature of the element drops below a certain value, by means of the battery. The battery, or more precisely an accumulator, could, for its part, be recharged as required when it passes through a station, for example if its charging capacity drops below a certain value. Therefore, if the discussion is about batteries within the context of the present invention, the same applies equally to accumulators.

Materials which have latent-heat-storing properties at the operating temperatures desired in the invention are adequately known in the prior art. For example, reference is made to powder substances of paraffin and silicate or to salts, such as sodium acetate trihydrate (NaCH₃CO₂.3H₂O) which has a melting point at about 58° C. The particular materials can be surrounded by coverings or bags which can then be integrated in the seat and/or back cushion. Depending on the heat-storing property of the layers of the cushion which surround the element, in particular on the seat surface for the person being conveyed, the operating temperature selected has to be a temperature which is perceived through the covering as being pleasant by the person being conveyed, i.e. with good insulation it is selected to be higher than if insulation is poorer or if the person is sitting directly on the covering or is leaning on the covering.

In contrast to solid, i.e. granular or fluid materials which are contained in a flexible bag, in the invention use can also be made of bodies with a solid spatial form in which a material having the desired heat-storing properties is contained. For example, it is conceivable for the element to be a foamed body into which the heat-storing material is inserted by foaming. However, elements are also conceivable which consist of fabric-like or fleece-like materials, in which the individual fibers are provided or covered with a heat-storing material or consist thereof. In this context, reference is made, for example, to U.S. 6 217 993 B1, in which a material is described which can be used for the desired purpose within the context of the present invention.

Although it is conceivable in principle for the elements having the heat-storing capacity to be able to be reheated only by being removed from the chair and reheated in an external heating device, it is preferred within the context of the present invention if the element is connected to a heating device.

This heating device may surround the element at least in some regions or may be arranged within the element. Heating films having heating coils imprinted on them or heating mats having carbon fibers woven into them or heating coils integrated in the element are conceivable as the heating device.

In order to prevent too much heat from becoming lost to the surroundings in times in which no user is sitting on the seat, measures may be provided within the context of the invention which reduce the heat loss in these times. For example, heat-insulating coverings or layers which have a lower heat-conducting capability on the side facing the user when a person is sitting on the cushion or is leaning against it are suitable in this case. This can take place, for example, by the heat-insulating covering being compressible and an insulating medium, for example air, being displaced when sat upon or lent against, as a result of which the heat transfer is automatically increased. Open-pored, foamed plastics are suitable examples of this.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for transporting persons on a cableway system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational front view of a multi-person lift chair assembly that is located in a station and that belongs to a cableway system according to the invention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of detail A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a third exemplary embodiment of a chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;

FIG. 4A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a storage system which is provided in a cableway system according to the invention and is intended for a multiplicity of chairs;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seat of a chair assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partly broken-away, perspective view of a seat of a chair according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail VIII in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a station of a cableway system according to the invention in which a chair 1 with six seats 7 for six persons is disposed. The chair 1 has a supporting rod 11, at whose upper end a coupling device 12 and a pulling cradle or running assembly 13 are provided. A supporting frame 14, on which a seat bench 15 is disposed, has a pivotally mounted locking bar 16. In addition, the chair 1 is provided with a hood 17 that can be pivoted by way of a control device 17 a.

The chair 1 can be coupled to the supporting and conveying cable of the cableway system by means of the coupling device 12. The pulling cradle 13 can be used to move the chair 1 in the stations, in which it is decoupled from the supporting and conveying cable, along guide rails 4 through the stations.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seat cushions 8 and, if appropriate, also the back cushions 9 of the seats 7 are provided in each case with an element 10 that has a high storage capacity for latent heat at operating temperature. For the supply of heating devices 19 for these elements 10, connections 8 a, 9 a to an external current source and a control device 3, which is situated below the seat surface, are provided on each chair 1. The heating of the elements 10 by way of the heating elements 19 can take place, on the one hand, outside the operating times of the cableway system during the garaging of the chairs 1. It may also, on the other hand, take place during the operation of the cableway system as the chairs 1 move through the stations. This may take place each time they travel through the station or only when the temperature of the elements 10 drops below a predetermined minimum temperature. Since the chairs 1 are decoupled from the supporting and conveying cable in the stations and are guided through the stations along the guide rails 4 at a substantially reduced speed in comparison to the conveying speed of the supporting and conveying cable, there is a period of time of approximately 10-20 secs, in the case of chair lifts, and of approximately 30-60 secs, in the case of systems using cable cars, for heating the elements 10.

For the supply of the heating devices 19, two batteries 2, for example, which are situated below the seat surface may also be provided on each chair 1. In this case, instead of the direct heating of the elements 10 by means of the heating elements 19 as they pass through the station, the batteries 2 can be charged outside the operating times of the cableway system during the garaging of the chairs 1 or else during the operation of the cableway system as the chairs 1 move through the stations. In addition, the batteries 2 can be charged by means of photovoltaic elements.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1A, for the charging of the batteries 2 or the direct heating of the heating elements 19, conductor rails 5 having two current conductors 51 and 52 which are assigned current collectors 21 and 22 on the supporting rod 11 are situated in the stations. These current collectors 21 and 22 are used to feed the batteries 2 or the heating elements 19 with current as the chairs 1 pass through the stations.

The control device 3 is used to control the heating of the seat and back cushions 8, 9 of the chairs 1. Provision is made in this case to heat the cushions 8, 9 as soon as the chairs 1 enter the stations and are consequently used, this being the case, in particular, for those seats 7 which were not occupied when the chairs entered into the stations and so cool down more severely during their movement over the section. For this purpose, temperature sensors whose outputs are connected to the control devices 3 are preferably provided in the seats. However, if batteries are used, the heating of the elements 10 may also take place continuously, but in any case irrespective of the particular position of the chair 1 on the cableway system and, for example, only if the temperature of the elements 10 drops below a predetermined minimum temperature.

It is also possible to provide a temperature sensor and a controlling means only in a station rather than on each chair 1, via which then the charging of the batteries 2 or heating of the elements 10 is controlled centrally when required. It is also possible for just a single chair 1 to be provided with a sensor which passes on its measurement data via radio, or when passing through a station, to a central controlling means for the charging of the batteries 2 or heating of the elements 10.

The chair 1 which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A differs from the chair 1 according to FIG. 1 in that it is equipped on both sides of the supporting frame 14 with photovoltaic elements 6, by means of which the batteries 2 or the elements 10 are also fed with current during the journey of the chairs 1 over the section and are thereby charged or heated.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 3A, a further photovoltaic element 6 a is disposed on the rear side of the chair 1.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 4A, two photovoltaic elements 6 b are disposed on the front side and on the rear side of the horizontal beam 14 a of the supporting frame 14 above the seat bench 15.

FIG. 5 illustrates one of the stations of the cableway system through which the chairs 1 are moved along the guide rails 4 during the operation of the cableway system. In this case, the station is assigned a system for storing the chairs 1 outside the operating times of the cableway system. This storage system has a plurality of storage rails 4 b which can be connected by means of a connecting rail 4 a to the guide rail 4 and onto which the chairs 1 can be displaced in order to store them outside the operating times of the cableway system. The storage rails 4 b are assigned conductor rails 5 a via which the batteries 2 or elements 10 can be charged by means of the current collectors 21, 22 during the storage of the chairs 1.

FIG. 6 finally illustrates a seat 7 which has, both in its seat region and in its back region, heated cushions 8 and 9 which are connected via connections 8 a and 9 a to the batteries 2 with the connection in between of the control circuit 3.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example, in which the element 10 comprises a bag 30 having a latent-heat-storing material. The bag 30 is surrounded by an insulating layer 31, 32, the layer 31, which is arranged on the upper side, consisting of a compressible, open-pored plastic. As a result, the upper layer 31 has good insulating behavior in the unloaded state, i.e. if a person is not sitting on it. If, however, a person is sitting on the seat, the layer 31 is compressed, as a result of which the air escapes from the pores and the insulating properties of the layer are therefore greatly reduced. As a result, the transfer of heat from the element 10 to the person is greatly improved. The frame 33 of the seat is disposed below the lower insulating layer 32 of a noncompressible, readily insulating plastic. A heating film 19 which heats the element 10 when required is arranged between the bag 30 and the lower insulating layer 32.

In summary, an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be depicted as follows:

In order to prevent the cooling of seats on chair lifts that is perceived as being unpleasant by skiers, the seats 7 have at least one element 10 which has a good heat storage capacity at operating temperature. This element 10 is preferably integrated in the seat and/or back cushions 8, 9 and comprises, for example, a covering 30 in which a solid or fluid material having a good heat-storing property is contained.

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Austrian patent application No. 1071/2003, filed Jul. 11, 2003; the entire disclosure of the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference. 

1. A device for transporting persons in a cableway system, the device comprising: a fastening device for attachment to a supporting and conveying cable; at least one seat connected to said fastening device, said at least one seat having a seat cushion and at least one element with good heat storage capacity at an operating temperature of the device.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is integrated in said seat cushion.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said seat further has a back cushion.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is integrated in said seat cushion and in said back cushion.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element comprises a covering containing a solid or fluid material having a superior heat-storing characteristic.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is a body with a substantially solid spatial form containing a material having good heat-storing properties therein.
 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said body is a foamed structure or a fabric structure.
 8. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a heating device connected to said element.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device surrounds said element at least in some regions thereof.
 10. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is disposed within said element.
 11. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is a sheet-shaped device having heat-spending heating lines fitted therein or thereon.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said heating lines are electric heat conductors.
 13. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is formed with a connection to an energy storage device.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said energy storage device is a battery connected to said heating device and disposed on the device.
 15. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said heating device and said energy storage device includes a connection for an external energy source not disposed on the device.
 16. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device includes a connection for an external energy source not disposed on the device.
 17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said connection is disposed on one of said fastening device and a supporting rod of the device.
 18. The device according to claim 5, wherein said heat-storing material is a continuously-dispensing heat spender.
 19. The device according to claim 5, wherein said heat-storing material is configured to output heat based on a pulse or upon substantially permanent mechanical loading.
 20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said pulse is a mechanical pulse.
 21. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a heat-insulating covering surrounding said element.
 22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said element is integrated in said seat cushion and said seat cushion forms said heat-insulating covering.
 23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said heat-insulating covering is configured, on a side of said element facing towards a user, to have an increased heat-conducting capability under pressure.
 24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said heat-insulating covering is compressible on a side thereof facing the user.
 25. The device according to claim 1, which further comprises a control device controlling said heating device.
 26. The device according to claim 25, which further comprises a temperature sensor connected to said control device for detecting a temperature of said element.
 27. The device according to claims 1, wherein said element or a material contained in said element has a latent-heat-storing capacity at an operating temperature of the device.
 28. A cableway system, comprising: a supporting and conveying cable; and a multiplicity of devices for transporting persons having fastening devices for fastening to said supporting and conveying cable, and being configured according to claim
 1. 29. The cableway system according to claim 28, which comprises conductor rails connected to an external energy source for supplying energy to said element, disposed in at least one station of the cableway system.
 30. The cableway system according to claim 28, comprising a cableway station configured for garaging said devices during non-use thereof, and conductor rails in said cableway station connected to an external energy source for supplying energy to said element.
 31. The cableway system according to claim 28, which comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and a central controlling unit for charging at least one of said energy storage device and said elements disposed in at least one station of the cableway system. 